The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-10-15

home in Illinois last night. SAYS IHe
Cincinnati Enquirer Capt Warner
is now enfeebicd by age. He has
nearly reached the seventy third mile
post, but his mind is as clear and
as bright rs ever. The old gentleman
was conspicuous figure ia Richmond
during The most exciting period OF the
rebellion. IL is difficult 70 engage him
In conversation about the prison, but
when once started he talks freely and
relates many interesting incidents
which hundrcds OF Union prisoners
viii remember. From letters in his
possession IL Is evident that Capt.
Warner was as humane and consider
ate 10 unfortunate prisoners as cir
cumstances would permit he made
scores of friends by his kindness, and
Is In regular correspondence with
several army officers who-b0arded with
him during the late unpleasantness
al was commissary and quartermaster
at Libby prison from 1861 10 1864" he
said when requested To give some OF
his "reminiscences 90 The Enquirer.
III wasn't pleasant duty. but have
the consciousness of feeling that
never treated any man harshly OF
cruelty. When We had good provis-
ions the prisoners got them. Some
timesthey Jared better than the men
ia tho Confederate army / have seen
Lee'ssoldiers pick up and eat crasts
Of bread thrown out by the prisoners"
Were the guards brutal toward the
prisonersY"
'.Sonetimes / think they were, but
they were punished when IL was found
out only remember two men being
killed by the guards"
How many men were taken out of
Libby and hanged while you were
commissaryg"
None: but two men had a very
narrow escape. it was very solemn
affair, and came near ending badly for
the prisoners. We received word that
two Confederate prisoners had been
taken out and hanged, and General
Wmder in command OF Richmond, de-
termined to retaliatc by hanging two
Union prisoners Ia Libby. The order
provided that the names of all the
Union captains in coniinement--there
were sixty of them should be
written on pieces OF paper and placed
in box. From these two names were
To be drawn, and the nnlucky men
would be strung up. | refused 10 SUI
perintend the drawing, and all the
chaplains were called down stairs and
asked TO name a man 10 draw the slips
Notwithstanding his vigorous protest,
Chaplain Brown, OF Indiana, was Sc
iected. Amid death-like silence the
box was held above him, and he drew
two pieces OF paper, which bore the
names Of Capt. Sawyer, of New Jersey,
and Capt. Flynn, of Ohio. The two
men were taken to Gen. Winder's Of
flee sawyer took the matter with
great bravery, but Flynn weakened
uerceptibly. At Gen. Winder's
quarters sawyer asked permission to
write letter 10 his family before he
was. executed. he was accorded the
privilege and wrote letter To his
mother. which was submitted 10 the
general, who promised 20 see that IL
Was sent. When Flynn was asked II
he wished to forward message 10 his
relatives he replied: mo. IL you
d--wbels hang me my family VIII md
il out soon enough" The two men
were then removed 10 prison, expect
ing 10 be hanged at daybreak. In
some way the Christian women heard
OF the proposed execution. Ehey had
no love for the Yankees, but thought
they ought TO have more time TO pre-
pare for death, SO they besought Presi-
dent Davis To respite them for several
DAVIS. which he consented 10 do. In
the meantime word had reached Secre-
tary stanton that two Union captains
were 10 be hanged. Col. Winder and
Gen. Fitzhugl Lee were then Union
PRISONERS. and stanton notified Jer
Davis that III the two men were exc
cnted he would hang Winder aud Lee.
This frightened the Confederates, AID
the captains were not hanged, but
shortly afterward exchanged. IL was
a mighty close call for them. III IL
hadn't been for the religious women
.nterferlng they would have been
strancled the next morning.
.Lapt. sawyer understand Is still
alive. uut FLYNN is dead Among the
noted officers in Libby while 1 was
there we're Gems. Sreighi, REYNOLDS,
McCall. Chaplain McCAsbe. and Col
lee. 81 Boston"
Can't. Warner is a great admirer OF
Gep. Grant, and thinks he was one OF
the bravest and best soldiers that ever
lived. At one time while the captain
.- a.. u.,b,non1 bf etf nplitsd or tried